GER LANDS BIG WAAN Lyons triumphs in Lincolnshire again

ON a day when Jim Bolger and Kevin Manning shared a 5354/1 treble on the opening day of the new Flat season, Karawaan gave Ger Lyons his second Tote Irish Lincolnshire in three years in Naas yesterday.

Bought by David Spratt out of Sir Michael Stoute’s yard for £32,000 and having his first outing for Lyons, the Colin Keane-ridden 9/1 shot landed the spoils convincingly from Trading Point.

And Shane Lyons, representing his trainerbrother, said: “He’s been cantering away, but we didn’t know what to expect from him on that ground. So it’s a very, very pleasant surprise. Colin said he galloped away through the ground.

“We’re still learning about him. He’ll be effective from a mile to a mile and a quarter. And a lot of credit goes to David Spratt and Gaelic Bloodstock who bought him.”

The rest of the day belonged, largely, to the Coolcullen team of Bolger and Manning, inset, which struck with French import Normandel (14/1) having her second start for the yard, in the Group 3 Lodge Park Stud Park Express Stakes.

Bolger said: “She ran well here last back-end, when she got a bit tired. I was happy with her then and I thought she might finish third today.

“We’ve only had her a short time. She won a listed race over a mile and a quarter in France, but I think she’s better at seven furlongs or a mile.”

Earlier,

Western Dawn

(20/1) had initiated the Bolger/manning treble in the six-furlong handicap while the one-eyed filly Solar Wave (16/1), slowly into stride, came from last to first to win the six- furlong handicap.

The Aidan O’brientrained Never No More, impressive winner of the Naas Racecourse Business Club Madrid Handicap, is now likely to be aimed at the 2,000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown on April 6.

The trial, earmarked by Kevin Prendergast for the seasonal debut of Madhmoon, is also a likely target for Fozzy Stack’s 97-rated Wargrave, which made all for Chris Hayes in the finale, a seven-furlong maiden. Stack’s charge also holds an engagement in the German 2,000 Guineas.

Two trainers cemented their arrangements with new stable jockeys – Jessica Harrington and Shane Foley clicked with Still Standing in the listed Devoy Stakes, en route to a possible return to Naas for the Alleged Stakes on April 13 (for which he’ll have to be supplemented).

And Michael O’callaghan and Leigh Roche shared in the emphatic success of Red Epaulette in the two-year-old maiden which kick-started the new season.